TOKYO (AP) — The head of the international rowing federation says he is seeking clarification from Tokyo officials after a city advisory panel recommended moving the 2020 Olympics rowing competition far from the Japanese capital to save money.
Jean-Christophe Rolland, president of the Swiss-based World Rowing, was in Tokyo on Monday on a scheduled visit. He said the reports of a possible venue change had come as a surprise.
Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike has promised "world-class cost-control" for the 2020 Tokyo Games, and ordered a review by a panel of independent experts. A preliminary report Friday warned of ballooning costs and recommended using existing venues for rowing, swimming and volleyball instead of building new ones.